Top honours for Lowe

Hokitika axeman Adam Lowe took top honours at the 2010 NBS West Coast Sports Awards, at Shantytown on Saturday night.
The 24-year-old was named Sportsperson of the Year after a history-creating year with the axe.
Among other titles, Lowe won the world championship standing 375mm event at the Sydney Royal Easter Show, and created history in March when he became the first axeman to win six individual titles at the South Island Championships, in Geraldine.

Administrator of the Year Val McGirr was recognised for her work with the Greymouth Athletic Club, the West Coast Netball Association and for organising the inaugural West Coast Junior Sports Awards this year.
Woodchopping maestro Denis McLaughlin won the referee-umpire-coach category for his commitment to travelling around the South Island to offer his expertise to axemen and coaching four woodchoppers to international level, while the West Coast athletic team won the teams award, after ending Nelson’s 12-year dominance of the coveted Mahar Cup.
The winners of the West Coast Sports Awards were.—
Sportsperson of the Year: Adam Lowe; Paul Coll first runner-up, Lance Pascoe second runner-up.
Administrator of the Year: Val McGirr.
Referee-Umpire-Coach of the Year: Denis McLaughlin; Phil Bone runner-up.
Team of the Year: West Coast athletic team; West Coast Chargers rugby league team runner-up.